Bird-Parliament — trans. Edward FitzGerald (1889)

In Paradise the Angel Gabriel heard The Lips of Allah trembling with the Word Of perfect Acceptation: and he thought 'Some perfect Faith such perfect Answer wrought, But whose?'—And therewith slipping from the Crypt Of Sidra, through the Angel-ranks he slipt Watching what Lip yet trembled with the Shot That so had hit the Mark—but found it not. Then, in a Glance to Earth, he threaded through Mosque, Palace, Cell and Cottage of the True 710 Belief—in vain; so back to Heaven went And—Allah's Lips still trembling with assent! Then the tenacious Angel once again Threaded the Ranks of Heav'n and Earth—in vain— Till, once again return'd to Paradise, There, looking into God's, the Angel's Eyes Beheld the Prayer that brought that Benison Rising like Incense from the Lips of one Who to an Idol bowed—as best he knew Under that False God worshipping the True. 720

And then came others whom the summons found
Not wholly sick indeed, but far from sound:
Whose light inconstant Soul alternate flew
From Saint to Sinner, and to both untrue;
Who like a niggard Tailor, tried to match
Truth's single Garment with a worldly Patch.
A dangerous Game; for, striving to adjust
The hesitating Scale of either Lust,
That which had least within it upward flew,
And still the weightier to the Earth down drew, 730
And, while suspended between Rise and Fall,
Apt with a shaking Hand to forfeit all.

There was a Queen of Egypt like the Bride
Of Night, Full-moon-faced and Canopus-eyed,
Whom one among the meanest of her Crowd
Loved—and she knew it (for he loved aloud),
And sent for him, and said 'Thou lov'st thy Queen:
Now therefore Thou hast this to choose between:
Fly for thy Life: or for this one night Wed
Thy Queen, and with the Sunrise lose thy Head.' 740
He paused—he turn'd to fly—she struck him dead.
'For had he truly loved his Queen,' said She,
'He would at once have giv'n his Life for me,
And Life and Wife had carried: but he lied;
And loving only Life, has justly died.'

And then came one who having clear'd his Throat With sanctimonious Sweetness in his Note Thus lisp'd—'Behold I languish from the first With passionate and unrequited Thirst Of Love for more than any mortal Bird. 750 Therefore have I withdrawn me from the Herd To pine in Solitude. But Thou at last Hast drawn a line across the dreary Past, And sure I am by Foretaste that the Wine I long'd for, and Thou tell'st of, shall be mine.'

But he was sternly checkt. 'I tell thee this:
Such Boast is no Assurance of such Bliss:
Thou canst not even fill the sail of Prayer
Unless from Him breathe that authentic Air
That shall lift up the Curtain that divides 760
His Lover from the Harim where He hides—
And the Fulfilment of thy Vows must be,
Not from thy Love for Him, but His for Thee.'

The third night after Bajazyd had died,
One saw him, in a dream, at his Bedside,
And said, 'Thou Bajazyd? Tell me O Pyr,
How fared it there with Munkar and Nakyr?'
And Bajazyd replied, 'When from the Grave
They met me rising, and "If Allah's slave"
Ask'd me, "or collar'd with the Chain of Hell?" 770
I said "Not I but God alone can tell:
My Passion for his service were but fond
Ambition had not He approved the Bond:
Had He not round my neck the Collar thrown
And told me in the Number of his own;
And that He only knew. What signifies
A hundred Years of Prayer if none replies?"'

'But,' said Another, 'then shall none the Seal
Of Acceptation on his Forehead feel
Ere the Grave yield them on the other Side 780
Where all is settled?'

But the Chief replied—
'Enough for us to know that who is meet
Shall enter, and with unreprovéd Feet,
(Ev'n as he might upon the Waters walk)
The Presence-room, and in the Presence talk
With such unbridled Licence as shall seem
To the Uninitiated to blaspheme.'

Just as another Holy Spirit fled,
The Skies above him burst into a Bed
Of Angels looking down and singing clear 790
'Nightingale! Nightingale! thy Rose is here!'
And yet, the Door wide open to that Bliss,
As some hot Lover slights a scanty Kiss,
The Saint cried 'All I sigh'd for come to this?
I who lifelong have struggled, Lord, to be
Not of thy Angels one, but one with Thee!'